Carton clamping and guiding means in
an automatic c arton closing machine



Aug. 26, 1969 w, LOVELAND ET AL Re. 26,650

CARTON CLAMPING AND GUIDING MEANS 1N AN AUTOMATIC CARTON CLOSING MACHINE20, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec.

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9 Sheets-Sheet 2 ING MEANS IN AN :In lkw? m A w Nw m...

W. LOVELAND ET AL Aug. 26, 1969 CARTON CLAMPING AND GUID AUTOMATICCARTON CLOSING MACHINE Original Filed Dec, 20, 1965 www Aug. 26, 1969 w.L OVELAND ET AL Re. 26,650

CARTON CLAMPING AND GUIDING MEANS IN AN AUTOMATIC CARTON CLOSING MACHINEOriginal Filed Dec. 20, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 26, 1969 w. L OVELANDET AL. Re. 26,650

CARTON CLAMPIN AND GUIDING MEANS IN AN AUTOMATIC CARTON CLOSING MACHINEzo. 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet t Original Filed Dec.

Z/O 207 H0 5 Aug. 2s, 1969 W. LOVELAND ET AL CARTGN CLAMPING AND GUIDINGMEANS IN AN AUTOMATIC CARTON CLOSING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 ug. 26,1969 w, LQVELAND ET AL Re. 26,650

CARTON CLAMPING AND GUIDING MEANS 1N AN AUTOMATIC CARTON CLOSING MACHINEOriginal Filed Dec. 20, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 Mmm.,

Aug. 26, 1969 W. LOVELAND ET AL.

CARTON CLAMPING AND GUIDING MEANS IN AN Original Filed Dec. 20, 1965AUTOMATIC CARTON CLOSING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Aug. 26, 1969 w.LovELAND ET AL Re. 26,650

CARTON CLAMPING AND GUIDING MEANS IN AN AUTOMATIC CARTON CLOSING MACHINEOriginal Filed Dec. 2G, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 M, /52 /44 M F/ G /7 /53\f /50/ N 346 /46 /50 347 L3 N UNIFORM RANDOM f i 2620/ l l -U m l 3\"-25 9 j I 56/ i W 26a-2 357 266) i/ l m 355 /3022 /354 g ,.362

2560 36, MJ /354 I t "#1 365 m f4 QT /49-f y 2950y 563 mp R N 263 C t su t I l l 36? 2520 55@ l o G 1 m 252-4 g IL l e l United States PatentOffice Re. 26,650 Reissu-ed Aug. V26, 1969 26 650 CARTON CLAMPING-A ANDGUIDING MEANS IN AN `AU'IIIlMtA'IIC CARTON CLOSING MACHINE`Winton'LovelnndfFreeport, and Saul VWzIrShavV, New

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears Ain the original lpatent`butforms no vpart ofthis reissue specification; matter `printedin--italics indicates the additions t made by reissue.

ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE T he. present invention pertains to automaticcarton .closing machines. This machine folds down and inward theupwardly-extending front and rear. flaps of a series of successiveopen-top cartons of random size to closed lateral positions so as to belapped by downwardly and inwardly folded side flaps ,for securing thefolded flaps together in carton closing positions. Such automaticmachaine embodies a lateral conveyor mechanism having an entrance endand a discharge end and dejning therebetween a path of forward advanceof carton travel along which the conveyor' mechanism moves the cartonssuccessively in spaced apart relation. Allong this path is located aflap folding and sensing station where each carton is caused to pausefor folding inwardly by suitable mechanism the extending flaps. A pairof opposed, longitudinally-extending, carton clamping and guidingmembers are arranged along the carton travel patlz to receive eachcarton therebetween. Fluid driven mechanism moves this pair 0)` membersto opposite sides of each carton at the station to clamp it stronglytherebetween for holding its securely during the flap folding operationand then eases off the clamping action to convert the pair of members toguides. Such pair of clamping members may carry elevating carton sideengaging shoes which will be moved out of the way of the conveyormechanism when the latter travels. The conveyor mechanism is driven byalternate low` and high power driving means so that when each carton isclamped at the station the conveyor mechanism will not apply crushingforce to the clamped carton and when `the clamping action is convertedto guiding action the released carton may be further advanced by theconveyor mechanism. Other features of the invention appear in thefollowing specification and accompanying drawings.

This application is a continuation-impart of our application Ser. No.219,212, led Aug. 24, 1962, now Patent No. 3,236,022, for AutomaticCarton Closing Machine.

The present invention relates to` an automatic carton closing machineand, more particularly, to mechanisms therein for clamping each of aseries of cartons fed therethrough successively in a temporarily stoppedposition at a flap folding station while flap folding operations Vareperformed thereon and then guiding them through to the discharge end ofthe machine.

i One Yaspect of this `invention is particularly concerned t withctheproblem of folding down `the top flaps of cartons of relatively shallowdepths, such as of the order of three to fourand one-half inches(3"-4V2") Ein height, in `a machine. ythat will efficiently perform suchoperations on Vcartons of random sizewhich are higher than fourland`one-half inches (4l/2"). Such small/cartons which-have heights in thisrange frequently have rounded corners and are diflcultto square `betweenand -to be clamped securely by opposed clamping members translatedtransversely v relative to each other for this purpose.

In a'machine of the oonstructionfof ourcopending .application Ser. No.219,212, led Aug. 24, 1962, such .carton clamping means are in the. formof transverse-ly spaced, elongated, parallel members or rails .mountedfor drive toward each other temporarily `to clamp `therebetween eachcarton when stopped at a carton sensingand flap folding station and`then to release the closed carton for conveyor transport forward while?the clamping rails serve as guides in such. forward travel of thecarton. The opposed inside faces of these clamping rails serve as` thecarton sides contacting means thereof and, in one form, are provided byupstanding edge flanges that ank opposite sides of the llap foldingstation and therein-lamp an intervening carton temporarily stopped atthis station. The conveyor means which picks up each carton at the apfolding station and transports it forward after a flap folding operationis performed thereon preferably is of the chain conveyor type havingtransverse Hight bars that travel above these rail inside anges beneaththe elevating head at the liap folding station which carries themechanisms for folding the top flaps down to carton closing positions.When, as is proposed in that parent application, this flap folding headalso carries beyond the Hap folding station top taping mechanism,interference with the latter by thetransverse flight bars of thechainconveyor must be avoided.

For this purpose and in connection with the development of one phase ofthe present invention the conveyor flight bars had to be loweredrelative to the top edges Of the opposed inside flanges of the clampingrails so that there was only about one-eighth of an inch (1/s")clearance andthe height of these rail inside flanges required reductionto about one inch (1"). The resulting narrow carton clamping faces ofthese rail flanges: increased the danger of crushing carton sidesn theclamping action, and in the case of the small cartons having heights inthe three to four and one-half inch (3"-4/2") range effective clampingand properly aligned orientation was found to be yunreliably attaineddue to the prevalence of the rounded corners and resulting tendencyforsuch small cartons to be forced up or to.jump over the .opposed low railside anges.

It was further found in the development of thevpresent invention thatcartons of allsizes. receivable by this closing machine, including thesmall ones of heights in the three to four and one-half inch (3"-41/2'?)range, could be effectively centered in square orientation and securelyclamped if the opposedlclamping faces of the clamping and guidingmembers or` the opposed rails thereof were provided in a form to attainan effective elevation at the time of clamping action of a minimum ofabout one Aand one-half inches (l1/2"). This ledlto the solution of thepresent invention.

These problems were solved by designing elevating and retractable cartonside engaging means supported on at least one of the pair of opposedcarton clamping and guiding members or rails at the inner side of thelatter to constitute the means of contacting a side of a carton pausingat the flap folding station. 1n the event that one of these members orrails is embodied with a fixed mount in a position to extend outside ofthe interference zone, i.e., transversely beyond the path of thetransverse flight bars, it may have an inner side clamping and guideface of the required minimum elevation in the form of a xed face or angestructure. The opposed and cooperative clamping and guiding member orrail is mounted for transverse drive and retraction relative to thisfixed one and is equipped with this carton side engaging means of uniqueform characterizing the present invention. Preferbly both of theclamping and guiding members or rails are mounted within theinterference zone and are thus provided on their inner clamping sideswith such carton side engaging means.

The present invention also provides means movably mounting each suchcarton side engaging means on the clamping and guiding member or railsupporting it for alternate elevation and retraction or motion away fromthe latter and the conveyor means toward the flap folding sub-assemblycarried by the elevating head, for appreciable lap against the opposedcarton side, and lowering such carton side engaging means toward themember or rail supporting it and the conveyor means to minimizeprojection thereof. This invention also provides means t effect suchretraction as the conveyor means picks up the pausing carton at thisstation and transports it forward. The retraction of the extendingcarton side engaging means thus permits the free passage of each loweredflight bar of the conveyor meansY ln association with such novel cartonside engaging means there is also provided unique improvements in themechanism for driving the opposed carton clamping and guiding members orrails toward each other to carton clamping positions and to reduce theclamping pressure against the carton sides sufficiently to permit eachclosed carton to be carried forward by the conveyor means with theopposed members or rails serving as effective guides. Such uniqueimprovements simplifies the structure and mechanisms provided for thispurpose in the identified parent application Ser. No. 219,212. Thepresent invention also encompasses an improvement in the means fortemporarily stopping each carton at the flap folding station and thenreleasing it for forward transport by the conveyor means to beneath thetop tape applying mechanism in the event that the machine is equippedwith such, this stopping means being separate from the conveyor meansfor separate operation thereof.

Another aspect of the present invention is concerned with a speed up ofthe rate of ap folding and carton closing operations effected bymechanisms of the machine to realize an appreciable increase in the rateof production performed by the machine. This is accomplished by sooperating the periodically stopped chain conveyor section of the machineas to cause it to coast up to abutment of one of its transverse flightbars against the back end of each carton temporarily clamped in astopped position at the flap folding station, so that when the carton isreleased thereafter for further transport forward it will be picked upalmost instantaneously for the further transport.

In the event that any one of the group of cartons is delivered to theflap folding station ahead of the next oncoming flight bar of the chainconveyor and, in connection with this second aspect of the invention,the carton is stopped at this station by means separate from the chainconveyor there is no need to apply braking action to the chain conveyor.If in the temporary absence of such braking action the chain conveyorcarries forward such following flight bar to abutment of the rear end ofthe carton stopped at the flap folding station the chain conveyor willbe stopped by the pausing carton which is held by its separate stoppingmeans. In accomplishing this action the drive of the chain conveyor mustbe reduced in force with ultimate slippage in order to avoid crushingthe carton which, in accordance with the present invention, isaccomplished in a unique manner.

This new development in the carton stopping and chain conveyor drivealso takes into account in an effective manner the possibility that thenext succeeding carton may not be delivered past the entrance gate atthe time the chain conveyor advances its next oncoming flight bar towardsuch initially critical position of this next entering carton. In suchcase braking power is applied to the chain conveyor to hold it stoppeduntil this succeeding carton is delivered forward past such initiallycritical position toward or to the ap folding station and the separatecarton stopping means thereat.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter, and the invention accordingly comprises the featuresof construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts,which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the inventionreference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view to reduce scale, with parts omittedfor clarity, of a type of automatic carton closing machine whichembodies forms of carton clamping and guiding means and also conveyormechanism and carton stopping means of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view to larger scale, with parts broken away, ofthe entrance end of the bed unit of the machine shown in FIG. l, andillustrating features of the present carton clamping and guiding meansand of the conveyor and stopping means;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, with parts in section, of theremaining discharge end of the bed of the machine',

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a section of one of the carton clamping andguiding members or rails shown in FIG. 2, with parts broken away, onwhich is mounted a carton side engaging means, that, by way of exampleand as is `illustrated therein, may comprise ya movable shoe capable ofbeing altennatively elevated and retracted;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 4, withone of the shoe operating transverse flight bars of the chain conveyorbeing indicated in broken lines to illustrate its service in retractingthe carton side engaging shoe;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6 6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view to larger scale of carton stop gate meansshown in FIG. 2, with parts broken away;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of pneumatic equipment primarily designedto operate or transversely drive toward each other and alternatively toretract the carton clamping and guiding members or rails, as well assecondarily pneumatic means associated therewith that may serveeffectively to elevate and retract the carton stop gate at the flapfolding station; the parts of such pneumatic system being shown in theirrelative positions to effect driving of the clamping and guiding railsin toward each other to opposite sides of a carton stopped at the flapfolding station;

FIG. l0 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 9, illustrating parts ofthe pneumatic system in their relative positions as a carton is clampedat the flap folding station between the opposed clamping and guidingmembers or rails;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIGS. 9 and 10, showing partsof the pneumatic system in relative positions to effect retraction ofthe carton clamping and guiding rails so as to spread them apartappreciably to initial positions for receiving therebetween a nextsucceeding carton as transported forward to the ap folding station;

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 9, but illustratinganother type of mechanism for operating the carton stopping gate at thetIap folding station;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 10 ofthe pneumatic equipment shown inFIG. 12 under the FI'G. 10 conditions;

FIG. 14 is a partially diagrammatic side elevational view, with partsbroken away and omitted for clarity, of the machine shown in FIG. 1,with the near side thereof removed for observation of conveyor operatedcontrol mechanism located on the far side thereof, and showing therelationship of conveyor parts, carton entrance supply and feed means,carton stop means at the flap folding station and photoceil controlswith respect to a carton initially being fed thereto;

FIG. l5 Vis a view similar to FIG. 14 showing the ad- Vance position ofparts of such mechanisms as the carton is delivered to the flap foldingstation and conveyor means advanced to a position assuring substantiallyinstantaneous pick up thereby of a carton at the iiap folding stationafter a flap folding operation has been performed at this station;

FIG. 1'6 is a schematic wiring diagram of the Yelectrical circuitry ofthe machine depicted in FIGS. 1 to 3 incl. as Well as solenoid valvesillustrated in FIGS. 9 to 13 incl.;

FIG. 17 is a detail view, with parts in section and others schematic, ofsolenoid operated latch mechanism which may be associated with lthefront flap folding arm structure to hold this arm in its up, horizontal.position for a time so as, during that period, to maintain therespective manipulated open and closed conditions of a gang of switchesoperated by the movement of this flap folding arm, and until a closedcarton has advanced through the machine to a certain point; and

FIG. 18 is a schematic wiring diagram of a portion of electricalcircuitry of another [eembodiment] embodiment of the machine shown inFIGS. 1 to 3 incl. which employs variations of the lelectrical equipmentproposed in FIG. 16 with respect to certain features and operationalcharacteristics thereof.

Referring to the drawings, in which -lilce numerals identify similarparts throughout, it will be seen, and particularly from FIGS. l, 2 and3, that the embodiment of the automatic carton closing machineillustrated by way of example therein may `be similar to that of ouraboveidentified patent application Ser. No, 219,212 and comprise a bedunit 1 and an elevating head unit 2 supported on the former by upwardlyextending standards or columnar structure 3. [Conventially]Convenlonaliy the parts of the machine are made of suitable Imeals]metals, The bed unit 1 has a rectangular frame structure supported uponsuitable legs 4. The frame Lstructure may include opposed sidewalls 5and `6, a relatively low end wall 7 at the entrance end, and another endwali 8 at the discharge end.

The bed `unit 1 is equipped with lateral conveyor means suitably`supported by the frame 'sidewalls 5 and 5, and this conveyor means hasan -entrance end in the vicinity of end Wall 7 and a discharge end inthe vicinity of [end] end wall 8. This conveyor means defines alongitudinal path of forward carton travel along which it successivelytransports a plurality of open-top cartons which may be of random sizesincluding those of relatively small heights, such as in the range ofabout three inches to four and one-half inches (3-41/2 Such cartons areof conventional fcrm being constructed, if desired, from corrugatedboard and rectangular in cross 'section with the edges of the topthereof provided with upwardly-extending front and `back flapsrespectively on the leading and trailing Ytop edges and opposedupwardly-extending side naps on the side top edges, all to be foldeddown to closed llateral lapping positions for securernent in ycar-tonclosing positions. The machine of the present invention is designedautomatically to close successively the tops of such cartons in this'manner after they have been loaded with the products to be marketed orshipped therein. Accordingly, any 'suitable feeding means, such as ardler conveyor 9, illustrated in FI-G. 11, will be mounted adjacent 'theentrance end of the bed unit l, i.e., adjacent the end wall 7,successively to feed a supply of the loaded cartons over the top edge ofthe latter to the conveyor means. TIlhe frame `structune of the -bedunit l may include lateral sheet metal ledges 10 and 11 extendinginwardly 'from the top edges of the `sidewalls 5 and I6 for support ofcertain control devices as will appear hereinafter, .amd strengtheningcross framing members may be embodied.

At the entrance end of the bed unit l, in the vicinity of end wall 7, ismounted a liftable gare 12 shown in FIGS. i and 2. A cross shaft 13,having its ends stt-pported by sidewalls 5 and 6 of the frame structune,pivotaly supports a pair of swinging arms 14 'which carry on their backends a gate bar 15. The gate bar 15 may be in the form of a 'length ofangle stock having an upwardly-extending, carton-barring flange 1126.The gate bar l5 preferably supports thereon a rotatable roll 17 overwhich the bottom of a ioaded canton may advance readily after a `leadingportion advances thereover. It 'will be understood that when the gatearms 14 are swung upwardly, or in a clockwise Vdirection as viewed inFIG. 1. the gate flange 16 will swing up above the plane defined by thetops of the series of feed rollers 9 to bar the leading end of a cartonbottom supplied across the latter until this Vgate flange is loweredbelow this feed plane.

The conveyor means includes a `continuously driven, initial endlesssection 27 indicated in FIG. l and seen `in FIG. 2. For this purpose, anidling roller 28 may be rotatably supported by a pair of arms 29pivotaiiy mounted or: the cross shaft 13, or, if desired, on a fixedposition axis by .suitable supporting means mounted to the machineframe. A driving shaft 30 is rotatably 4supported by bearing units 31between the frame sidewalls 5 and `6, and carries iixed thereto adriving roller 32. The initial conveyor section 27 preferably is in 'theform o'f `an endless belt lapped about the rollers 28 and 32. As will bebest seen from FIG. l, a bottom r-un of the conveyor beit 27 is `lappedback and ford'i about vidling rolis 33 and 34 with the latter supportedby tension adjusting devices 35. The shaft 30 carries a sprocket 36fixed thereto to be driven `by a `drive chain indicated bydot-dot-dot-dash lines 37 in FIGS. 2 and 3. The endless driving chain 37has a run lapped against a guiding idler 38 and is lapped about :adriving sprocket 39. Driving sprocket 39 is one of a group of threethereof timed together with the `second 40 constituting means fordriving tape feeding mechanism and .the third 41 constituting thedriving sprocket aibout which is iapped a driving chain indicated bydot-dot-dash lines at `42 in FIG. 3. The group of sprockets 39, 40 and4l are rotatably supported by a cross shaft 43 and the tape feedsprocket drives tape feeding mechanism comprising sprockets 44 `and 4Sabout which an endless chain is iapped and a sprocket 46 against whichthe drive chain 42 is lapped in turn to drive a cross shaft 47 of tapefeed mechanism. The endless chain 42 is lapped about a driving sprocket48 fixed to a driving stub shaft 49 of .a reduction gear unit 50operated by a main driving electric motor 51. 'The driving stub shaft 49also carries fixed thereto another driving sprocket 52 about which islapped an endless driving `chain indicated by dot-dash lines at 53 inFIG. 3, in turn lapped about a driven sprocket 54 rotatably supported bya cross shaft 5S equipped with suitable brake and clutch devices fordrive of a second conveyor section as is explained hereinafter.

Cross shaft 13 also carries, rotatably supported thereon, a pair of nearand far idler sprockets 56 and 156, as will be seen in FIG. 2, whilecross shaft 55 is rotatably supported by bearing units 57 and 157carried by frame side- 'walls 5 and 6. As will be seen in FIG. 3, driveshaft S5 carries fixed thereto a pair of near and far sprockets 58 and158 respectively aligned with sprockets 56 and 156. The second endlessconveyor section preferably is in the form of a pair of endless chains,indicated by dot-dash lines 59 and 159 in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectivelylapped about sprockets 56 and 58, and 156 and 158, for drive bysprockets 58 and 158. As will be best understood from FIG. l, the lowerrun of each of the endless chains 59 and 159 is lapped beneath one of apair of idlers 60 and 160 rotatably supported by a cross shaft 61mounted between frame sidewalls 5 and 6, and beneath another of a pairof idlers 62 and 162 rotatably supported by another cross shaft 63. Thesecond endless conveyor section also includes a series of cartontransporting ght bars 64 which (as is indicated in FIG. l. may be two innumber spaced longitudinally appreciably apart. The pair of conveyorchains 59 and 159 also may carry a plurality of reversed flight barswhich may be similar to the liight bars 64. There may be a pair of thesereversed flight bars and each will constitute a carton stop having thefunction of holding a carton at a sensing and Hap folding station whenthe second conveyor section pauses or is held in stop position. However,the illustrated embodiment of the machine preferably employs movablegate means at the exit end of this station to serve as such carton stop,and this mechanism is fully described hereinafter. The endless conveyorchain 59 on the near side, as viewed in FIG. l, also is equipped with apair of tripping lugs 66-1 and 66-2 to be carried along therewith foroperating certain limit conveyor means, and in order to attain certainproduction speed-up of similar but longer tripping lugs 266-1 and 266-2preferably are mounted on the companion conveyor chain 159 for a similarpurpose as is demonstrated in FIGS. 14 and l5.

It will thus be seen that the initial conveyor section comprisingendless belt 27 has an entrance end near the vicinity of the selectorgate 12 and a discharge end at a point appreciably in advance thereofwhich is at a cartn sensing and flap folding station. From the dischargeend of the initial conveyor section or belt 27 suitable fixedcarton-supporting structure extends forward, and this may be in the formof a pair of fixed fiat plates or rails 270 suitably supported betweenthe frame sidewalls and 6, such as by fixed cross rod 65 beneath theirfront ends (see FIG. 2) and other similar support means. Carton supportplates or rails 270 terminate in the vicinity of the discharge end wall8, as will be seen from FIG. 3. The second conveyor section comprisingconveyor chains 59 and 159 and their fiights 64 extend forward at leastfrom the discharge end of the belt conveyor 27 to the discharge end ofthe bed unit l. As will be apparent from FIG. 2, preferably the entranceend of the chain conveyor appreciably laps the discharge end of the beltconveyor and, in fact, has its chain-supporting front sprockets 56 and156 rotatably supported on the same cross shaft 13 which pivotallycarries the arms 29 rotatably supporting roller 28 about which theentrance end of the conveyor belt 27 is lapped. Thus, any carton whichis delivered to the sensing and ap folding station by the conveyor belt27 will be picked up there by an oncoming flight 64 of the chainconveyor to be slid forward over the rails 270 to the discharge end ofthe bed unit 1.

The near end of driven cross shaft 55 carries a housed magnetic brake671 and the far end thereof carries a housed magnetic clutch 67-2, bothof which are indicated in FIG. 3, and these units may be of conventionalconstruction. For example, the frame sidewall 5 may fixedly supportthrough fixed housing 68 of the brake unit 67-1 fixed field coils andcore structure thereof opposed to an axially slidable armature therein.Hub 69 of drive sprocket 58 is keyed to the drive shaft 55 and thesprocket in turn carries circumferential)y-spaced, axially-extendingpins on which is slidably mounted for axial motion the armature, whichmay be in the form of a paramagnetic disc (hidden in housing 68). Thefixed core structure is annular and has a friction face equipped withsuitable brake lining material opposed to a face of the slidablearmature plate, so that when the brake field coil is energized thearmature plate is drawn axially against the brake lining of the fixedmagnetic core structure to clamp it thereto and prevent the driven crossshaft 55 from rotating. The clutch unit 67-2 is of somewhat similarstructure with the field coil thereof also fixedly supported by housing168 therewithin, which in turn is fixedly mounted to the frame sidewall6. The annular core structure is carried by a hub keyed to the drivenshaft 55. While the hub 169 of sprocket 158 is also keyed to the drivenshaft 55, the drive sprocket 54 has its hub freely supported on thisshaft for relative rotation and axial motion toward the keyed corestructure, and sprocket 54 may be constructed of paramagnetic materialto serve as the annular armature. Thus, when the field coil of theclutch unit 67-2 is energized, the drive sprocket 54 will be slidaxially outward a short distance to have its outer face engage afriction facing of suitable material carried by the annular magneticcore structure keyed to the shaft, to connect the shaft and the conveyorchain driving sprockets 58 and 158 keyed thereto to the shaft drivesprocket 54. Since the magnetic brake and clutch units 67-1 and 67-2 areof conventional construction, further structural details thereof are notnecessary to an understanding of their functions and operations, andthey are alternately operated or energized for alternate periodic driveand pause of the chain conveyor section.

As will be understood from FIGS. 1 and 3, the support structure 3includes an opposed pair of [upwardly extending] upwardly-extendingstandards or columns and which constitute supports for the elevatinghead unit 2, and these columns are fixedly mounted to the framesidewalls 5 and 6 of the bed unit 1 in any suitable manner. The columns75 and 175 preferably are of channel construction so as to provideguiding channels 76 and 176 for slides or carriage means therein thatserve to carry a ap folding subassembly, and to house elevatingmechanism. Opposite ends of the cross shaft 63 extend into the channels76 and 176 and are fixedly mounted to these columns by any suitablemeans, such as stud bolts 77. Within the channels 76 and 176, fixedcross shaft 63 rotatably supports sprockets 78 and 178, forming a partof head elevating mechanism.

As will be understood from FIGS. 2 and 3, the bed unit 1 is equippedwith suitable carton clamping and carton travel guiding means,preferably extending from the vicinity of the entrance end to a distanceshort of the discharge end of the bed unit 1, but entirely through thecarton sensing and ap folding station in the vicinity of the dischargeend of the initial conveyor section or belt 27. This carton clamping andguiding structure may be in the form of a pair of rails 80 and 180,which may be of channel formation, as shown, to provide on the innersides thereof opposed upstauding flanges 81 and 181. As will beunderstood from FIGS. 2 and 3, the clamping and guiding rails 80 and 180are suitably supported by a pair of transverse rods 82 and 83 mounted tothe frame sidewalls 5 and 6. Each of the rods 82 and 83 supports a pairof slides 84 and 184 carrying bracket arms 85 and to each of which ismounted one of the rails 80 and 180. Thus, the guiding and clampingrails 80 and 180 are slidably supported on transverse rods 82 and 83 fortransverse movement inward and outward relative to the center of thepath of carton travel defined by the longitudinally-extending conveyormeans. In their outward positions, depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rails80 and 180 are at their initial carton-receptive positions to permit acarton fed over depressed gate 12 to the entrance end of the initialconveyor section belt 27 to advance therebetween. The front end of eachof the rails 80 and 180 preferably is equipped with a freely rotatingcarton guide roller 86 to facilitate entrance of a carton therebetween.

The. clamping and guiding rails 80 and 18|) are slid transversely backand forth on the glide rods 82 and `82 by suitable driving mechanism.Such rail driving mechanism may be in the form of a fluid pressuremotor, such as a pneumatic cylinder 87 of the double-action type havingits piston head 88 equipped with a through piston rod 89. The raildriving mechanism includes lateral sprockets 90, 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95.Sprockets 90 and 92 are supported on frame sidewall by a bracket 96while sprockets 93 and 95 are supported by a similar, reverselyshapedbracket 196. Sprocket 91 is supported on sidewall 6 by a bracket 97 anda similar bracket 98 is employed to support sprocket 94 on the lattersidewall, as will be understood from FIG. 2. Lengths of link chain arelapped about the sprockets 90 to 95 incl. and anchored to opposite endsof the piston rod 89, with suitable connections to the slides 84 and 184to drive the rails 80 and 180 transversely inward and outward. Forexample, a length 99 of such link chain is anchored to the right end ofpiston rod `89 as viewed in FIG. 2 and lapped about sprocket 90 toextend transversely to an anchor bolt 100 carried by slide 184 on sliderod 83. Slide 184 also carries another chain anchor bolt 200 to whichone end of another chain length 199 is anchored, with the latter lappedabout sprocket 9'1 to extend transversely back to another anchor bolt300 carried by slide 84 on slide rod 83. The latter slide 84 alsocarries an addition-al anchor bolt 400 to which a third length `299 ofthe chain is connected, with the latter lapped about sprocket 92 toextend longitudinally back for lap about sprocket 93 and thentransversely to a fth anchor bolt 5l\0 carried in like manner by slide184 on slide rod 82. This latter slide 184 also carries another anchorbolt 600 to which a fourth length of chain 399 is anchored and thenlapped about sprocket 94 to extend transversely back to an additionalanchor bolt 700 carried by slide 84 on slide rod 82, with a furtheranchor bolt 800 on the latter slide having connected thereto a fifthlength of chain 499 lapped about sprocket 95 to extend longitudinallyforward to connection with the left hand end of the piston rod `89.Thus, when the piston rod 89 of the pneumatic cylinder 87 is slidlongitudinally to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, the clamping andguiding rails 80 and 180 are driven transversely outward to theirinitial carton-recepive positions shown therein, and when the piston rodis then reciprocated in the opposite direction to the left in FIG. 2these rails are driven transversely inward toward each other forapproach of their inside anges 81 and 181 to opposite sides of a cartondelivered therebetween.

The front end of guiding and clamping` rail 180 carries opposite thebelt conveyor section 2.7, in the area of the carton sensing and Hapfolding station an adjustable control or sensing device 115, as will beseen in FIG. 2. For the purpose of supporting the adjustable control 115upon the guiding and clamping rail 180, the latter carries a pair ofopposed brackets. 125 (see FIG. 2). The brackets 125 supporttherebetween a pair of longitudinally-extending guide rods 126 and 226upon which a carriage 127 is slidably mounted. Carriage 127 supports acontrol device 128, which may be in the form of an electrical circuitswitch biased to one of its open and closed positions and manipulated tothe other thereof by an actuating arm 129. The switch actuating arm 129is elongated and extends longitudinally forward while having itsmid-section shaped to be disposed substantially parallel to the inwardface of ange 181 of rail 180 when retracted or swung back by contactwith carton side structure. Thus, when the rails 8l] and 189 are driveninward toward each other with a carton disposed therebetween oppositethe control 115, the back side of the carton which is opposed to theswitch operating arm 129 will first be contacted thereby. Then. as therails 80 and 180 are brought to clamping positions against the oppositesides of the carton, this switch operating arm 129 will be retracted orpushed back to operate the switch 128. The control device comprisingswitch 128 and its actuating arm 129 are automatically adjustable alongthe path of carton forward travel as dictated by the width of thecarton. For example, a narrow carton causes the clamping rails and 180to be driven inward toward each other an appreciable distance and thecontrol device 128 will be advanced forward an appreciable distance.With wider cartons, where inward travel of the clamping rails 80 and 180is relatively small, the control device 128 will be advanced forwardonly a short distance. This automatic adjustment of the position of thecontrol device 128 is attained by substantially rigid tie meanspivotally connected to the xed structure of the bed frame and to thecontrol carriage 127. For example, elongated rigid arm or strap 130 ispivotally mounted at 131 to bed frame wall 6, with its other endpivotally connected at 133 to the carriage 127, as will be understoodfrom FIG. 2. Thus, as rail [80] 180 is driven transversely inward towardthe center of the longitudinal path of carton forward traved, the tie13|) is swung counterclockwise to pull the control carriage 127 forwardalong the guide rods 126 and 226. This forward adjustment of theposition of the control device 115 is proportionate to the width of thecarton at the carton sensing and ap folding station.

The machine bed unit 1 also is provided with additional controlequipment. As will bel seen from FIG. l, the frame of the bed unit 1supports a limit control 135, which may be in the form of electricalcircuit switching means having a plurality of switches mechanicallylinked together for simultaneous operation. The limit switch 135 isprovided with an actuating trigger 136 designed to be swung up and downand biased to its downward position with a drag roller 137 carried byits lower end. Limit switch 135 preferably is supported upon ledge 10beyond the head-supporting upright column 75, such as in the vicinity ofthe location X-l indicated in FIG. 3, so that the roller 137 on theactuating trigger 136 will be dragged over the next oncoming travelinglug 66-1 or 66-2 carried by conveyor chain 59. When the upper run ofconveyor chain 59 in its forward travel causes lug 66-1 to engage thetrigger 136, the latter will be swung up to actuate the switches in thelimit switch unit 135. and the circuit switches thereof will be held totheir respective manipulated positions until this run of the conveyorchain advances sutiiciently to free the trigger and thus permit thelimit switches to be returned to their initial positions. A similarlimit switch 235 preferably is mounted at iocation X-2 on frame ledge(FIG. 3) to be tripped by lugs 266-1 and 266-2 carried by conveyor chain159 (see FIGS. 2, 14 and l5).

Additional sensing devices are provided on the machine bed unit l, whichmay be in the form of optical carton sensing devices. For example, aswill be seen from FIGS. l and 2, the ledge 10 may support at 138, in thevicinity of the selector gate l2 and slightly in advance thereof aphotocetl responsive to the light beam from a light source 139 supportedon the opposite side by ledge 11. At the sensing and iiap foldingstation [Y], Y ledge 10 may support in similar fashion, substantially atthe point 140, a second photocell arranged opposite to a second lightsource for response to the beam thereof, with the latter being locatedsubstantially at the point 141. The functions of the photocells at 138and 140 will be explained in connection with the wiring diagram of FIG.16 and the operation of the machine detailed hereinafter.

In FIG. l is shown in dot-dash lines an open-top carton 134 ofrelatively shallow depth or short height located opposite the photocelloptical sensing device 140 nt the sensing and ap folding station Y,beneath a ap folding and carton closing head 142 supported for elevatingtravel upon the upright columns 75 and 175. Head 142 includes a lateralframe member or beam 143 which supports a flap folding sub-assemblywhich may include a depending post 144. The bottom end of depending post144 pivotally carries at 145 a front flap folding arm structure 146,which, due to gravity biasing, normally depends in the top elevatedposition of the head 142 shown in FIG. 1 obliquely down and forward tothe full line position shown in FIG. l. The front ap folding armstructure 146 carries a finger 147 which engages a trigger 148 ofanother limit control, which may be an electrical circuit switch device149 supported on the post 144. In the full line position of the frontHap folding arm structure 146 shown in FIG. 1 its finger 147 holds theswitch trigger 148 forward to a tripped position to hold the switch inone of its open and closed positions. When the front Hap folding armstructure 146 is swung upward to a lateral position, indicated by brokenlines in FIG. l, the trigger 148 of switch 149 is released to permit theswitch to be actuated to the other of its two positions. The bottom ofthe depending post 144 has anchored thereto, such as by welding, one endof a folded flap hold-down device in the form of a resilient presserstrip 150', which extends forward with its free end unsupported, tocooperate with the front flap folding arm structure 146. As will be seenfrom FIG. l, the ap hold-down strip 150 may have a continuating portionat its anchored back end, which is turned up obliquely and then inwardto additional anchorage to the depending post 144, so as to provide awedgeshaped stop 250 for a back ap folding arm or kicker hereinafterdescribed.

The elevating flap folding head 142 also may have a forwardly extendinglateral frame member A which supports suitable flap securing mechanism,which may be tape applying means of the type disclosed in our copendingpatent application for U.S. Letters Patent Ser. No. 139,676, filed Sept.2l, 1961, now Patent No. 3,236,716, including pairs of wipe down arms Band C, to which are supplied from a suitable tape supply reel D lengthsof gummed tape to be adhesively afixed over overlapping flaps of acarton top after the aps have been folded down in stacked or overlappingrelation. Similar tape applying devices are carried by the bed unit 1,including another adhesive tape supply reel E (see FIG. 1), tape feedand drive sprockets 40, 44 and 45, tape mechanism cross shaft 47 andsprocket 46l supported thereby, tape feed actuators F (supported on rail180, see FIG. 3) and associated structure.

The lateral frame member or beam 143 of head 142 pivotally supports at151 a carton back ap folding arm or kicker 161 as part of the ap holdingsub-assembly, as will be seen from FIG. l. The back flap folding arm orkicker 161 is normally held in an extended or substantially lateralposition when the ap folding head 142 is elevated to the maximum heightof its vertical travel, as is shown in FIG. 1. For this purpose thelateral beam 143 carries a kicker actuating means, preferably in theform of a pneumatic cylinder 163, as is shown in FIG. l. This pneumaticcylinder 163 is of the double-action type with pressurized uid beingalternately fed to opposite ends on opposite sides of its piston head bysuitable conduit means. Piston rod 167 mounted to the piston head of thepneumatic cylinder 163 is connected by a knuckle to a lever arm fixed tothe pivoted kicker 161. Thus, when pressurized air is supplied to theback end of pneumatic cylinder 163 the rear Hap kicker 161 ls swungbackward and upwardly to its substantially lateral cocked position,shown in full lines in FIG. l, with the head space of the cylinder infront of its piston head being vented. It will be seen from FIG. l thatthe bottom side of the rear flap kicker 161 is provided with a dependingtapered nose 172 having an oblique rear face 173-1 which, when thekicker is swung down to its depending position indicated in dot-dashlines in FIG. l, is oriented to substantial parallelism with the obliquestop 250. The cocked kicker 161 is swung down to this position to engageor strike the rear face of an opstanding back flap on the trailing endof the open top of a carton and kick it forward to folded lateralposition by reversing the pneumatic connections to cylinder 163 toretract the piston rod 167. When the kicker 161 is swung down theoblique rear face 173-2 of its tapered nose 172 provides a at lateralbottom surface substantially in the horizontal plane of the bottomsurface 146-1 of front flap folding arm structure 146- when swung up, asare indicated in dot-dash lines in FIG. l. These aligned bottom surfacesof the ap folding arms 146 and 161 maintain the folded front and backflaps in a common lateral plane during forward transport of the cartonwhich effects the folding down of the side flaps.

The top of the column '75 and 175, which support the head 2 for verticalreciprocation, xedly support at their top ends a reversing electricmotor 174, as is indicated in FIG. l. The drive of reversing motor 174is suitably geared to a pair of top drive sprockets 177 and 277 carriedby the top ends of the columns and 175. Drive chain 178 is lapped aboutdrive sprocket 177 in the vicinity of the top end of column channel 75and about the bottom idler sprocket 78, shown in FIG. 3 with opposedends thereof anchored by suitable means at 179 to a slide 182 riding upand down in channel 76. In similar fashion, a like chain (not shown) islapped about the far top sprocket 277 and bottom idler sprocket 178, andis anchored in like fashion to a similar slide of reversed form locatedin channel 176 of column 175. The opposed pair of slides 182 aresuitably tied together to act as a carriage unit. The carriagecomprising the pair of slides 182 and its companion suitably support thelateral frame member or beam 143 for vertical travel down and uptherewith. Thus, when the reversing vertical travel motor 174 is drivenin one direction the entire head structure 2 is lowered to position itsap folding means above an open top carton at the sensing and flapfolding station Y, such as carton 134 indicated in FIG. l, and whendriven in the opposite direction will lift this head structure to itsinitial elevated position, such as that indicated in full lines in FIG.l.

Maximum limits of up and down motion of the head structure 2 aredictated by suitable limit means, which may be in the form of switchmeans in electrical circuitry of the reversing motor 174. Such switchmeans may be of the double-throw type so as alternately to open theenergizing circuits of the reversing motor 174 to limit the down and updrive thereof. Such reversing motor control switch unit 186 is suitablymounted on slide 182. Switch unit 186 is provided with a doubleactionactuating trigger 187 arranged to be abutted in its up and down travelto bottom and top stop collars 190 and 193, fixed upon a verticalcontrol rod 191 supported by bed unit frame ledge 10 and the back edgeflange of column channel 75. The bottom stop collar 190 will limitlowering of the head structure 2, so as to assure that no parts thereofwill be driven down to jam against any of the bed unit structure shouldthe down energizing circuit of the reversing motor 174 accidentally beclosed in the absence of a carton at the sensing and ap folding station,thus being provided as a safety measure.

As will be seen from FIG. l, the flap folding head structure 142includes suitable carton side flap folding plows 233 having theirinitial top ends at 234 mounted to the head beam 143 by a bracket block236 and from which they extend obliquely down in an advance directionwhile converging toward each other. As is presently known in the art,plows of such shape will gradually turn over and fold downupwardly-extending carton aps when they are moved forward to engagementof their outside faces against the inner sides of such plows.

As has been previously indicated each of the carton clamping and guidingmembers or rails and 180 is provided with a carton side engaging meanscarried thereby or supported thereon at its inner side in the area ofthe sensing and ap folding station Y to constitute the means ofcontacting a side of a carton, pausing at this station, by structure ofthese members or rails. Such carton side engaging means are shown at 205and 2050 in FIG. 2, with the parts of the latter being mirroredduplicates of those of the former. Thus, the structure of the deviceshown at 205 will here only be described in detail. The inward side ofthe clamping and guiding member or rail 80, and its inside ange 81 areprovided with an elongated notch 204, and a like notch 2040 is providedin the opposed side of the cooperating or companion member or rail 180.

As will be more fully understood from FIGS. 4 to 6 incl., upon the topface of the web of rail 80 is fixedly mounted a U-shaped channel section206 by bolts 207 with its upstanding flanges 208 provided withtransversely aligned holes 209 through which extends a pivot pin or bolt210. A shoe 211 is pivotally mounted upon the pivot pin or bolt 210.Shoe 211 is in the shape of an inverted channel section having an inwardside flange 212 fitted for vertical motion in the notch or gap 204 andan outward side flange 213 provided with a rearwardly extendingextension 214 having a hole 215 through which the transverse pivot pinor bolt 210 extends. As will be seen from FIG. 5, the top edge 216 ofthe flange extension 214 is sloped in a forward direction obliquelyupward to the top face of the shoe web 217 for camming upwardly anoncoming chain conveyor transverse flight bar 64, as will be explainedlater. An arm 218 is welded to the underside of the web 217 and isprovided with a like hole 215 aligned with that in the fiange extension214 through which the transverse pivot pin or bolt 210 extends forpivotal mount of the shoe 211.

The upstanding flanges 208 of the channel section 206 carry a transversefixed pin 220 and the inverted llange 213 of the shoe 211 and theforward end of the arm 218 have provided therein transversely alignedslots 221 in which the projecting ends of the pin 220 ride as stop meansfor limiting up and down swing of the shoe 211. Upon the forward end ofthe channel section 206 is mounted a helical compression spring 222 uponwhich the forward end 223 of the pivoted shoe 211 rests so that it isspring biased upwardly.

It will thus be understood that with the pivoted shoes 211 of the cartonside engaging means 205 and 2050 swung upwardly to their extendedpositions as dictated by the biasing of their springs 222 the opposedinward side flanges 212 will be brought to secure clamping contactagainst opposite sides of the carton 134 at the sensing and Hap foldingstation Y, there to have maximum lap against the surfaces of thesecarton sides and to assure the provision of the minimum height ofclamping action to about one and one-half inches (l1/2") found to benecessary to assure secure carton anchorage with properly alignedorientation of the latter. As the front ap folding operation isperformed at station Y upon the carton 134 held securely clamped thereatbetween the clamping rails 80 and 180 the chain conveyor is started sothat its top run travels forward to carry up behind the stopped cartonone of the flight bars `64 and cause it to pick up this carton forcarrying it forward for performance of the ap folding operation on theupstanding rear carton flap. Then as the carton is carried fartherforward by forwardly traveling flight bar 64 the upstanding carton sideflaps are lapped down over the folded front and rear fiaps to completethe closure of the carton top after which the closed carton is carriedstill farther forward beneath the tape applying mechanism mounted onbeam A.

As will be explained later the clamping action of the clamping membersor rails 80 and 180 is converted to a guide operation by reducing theclamping force to a low biasing pressure so as to permit the closedcarton to be so carried forward from the flap folding station Y withguidance by these opposed rails. During this forward transport of theclosed carton by the transverse flight bar 64 the upwardly projectingclamping shoes 211 which have their forward ends intercepting the pathof forward travel of the transverse tiight bars must be lowered topermit free [pasage] passage of the latter. The oncoming flight bar 64,indicated in broken lines in FIG. 5 will ride along the upwardly slopingtop edge 216 of the shoe web 217 and over the latter to depress eachshoe 211 for permitting such free passage of the Hight bar. In orderthat the attendant frictional drag `between the bottom of each flightbar 64 and the top structure of each pivoted shoe 211 will not causesuch rapid wear as to undesirably limit the life of the shoe structurethe flight bar, or at least its bottom section, and the shoe, or atleast its top section, advantageously may be made of steel and surfacehardened. Alternately such friction surfaces may be protectively coveredby tough friction reducing material, such as Teflon or similarcomposition.

As has been previously indicated means for stopping each oncoming cartonat the Hap folding station Y, for performance thereon of the front apfolding operation, thereafter to be withdrawn to permit the carton to bepicked up by the chain conveyor and transported forward, may be areversed transverse flight bar of the type and function taught in ourprior application Ser. No. 219,212. However, this function may beperformed by movable gate means illustrated at 224 in FIG. 2 and shownin detail in FIGS. 7 and 8. This stop gate means may be in the form of alift gate which in its elevated position intercepts the carton path andwhich may `be retracted or lowered out of this path at the proper time.

It is preferred that such movable gate means 224 be in the form of apivoted stop paddle structure 225 having a journal 226 through which atransverse pivot pin 116 extends. Movable gate means 224 is supported bymeans of a pair of longitudinal plates 117 supported on transverse rods65 and 83 of the machine frame, and these plates are tied together by atie bolt structure 118 (see FIGS. 2, 7 and 8). Plates 117 support thetransverse pivot pin 116. For the purpose of swinging this paddlestructure 225 rearwardly up to intercept the carton path and swinging itforwardly down to a retracted position a pneumatic motor is providedwhich includes a cylinder 227 suitably supported at its back end 228,such as by ears 119 which pivotally receive therethrough tie bolt 118for swinging motion of this cylinder, and the latter carries areciprocating piston head 229 (see FIGS. 9 to 13 incl.). The pistonstructure of this pneumatic motor includes with the piston head 229 apiston rod 230 extending from out of the other end 231 of the cylinder227 for driving connection with the pivoted stop paddle structure 22S,such as by means of connector knuckle 232. Thus, when the piston rod 230is thrust forward, Le., back toward the entrance end of the machine, itwill swing the pivoted paddle structure 225 counterclockwise to lift itup into the carton travel path to constitute a stop for each carton asthe latter is moved up `by the conveyor means into the flap foldingstation Y, as is indicated in FIG. 2. This stop paddle structure 225will be retracted out of the carton travel path by clockwise swingforward upon retraction of the piston rod 230. Such reciprocative actionof the piston rod 230 with attendant elevation and retraction of thestop gate paddle structure 225 will be explained more fully inconnection with FIGS. 9 to 14 incl.

In FIGS. 9 to 11 incl. are shown diagrammatically pneumatic circuitryfor association with and control of the clamping rail driving motor 87including a source of pressurized gaseous medium or air and a pair ofsolenoid valves. It is therein proposed also to associate with suchpneumatic circuitry the pneumatic means for controlling and manipulatingthe movable gate means 224 in the form of the pivoted stop paddlestructure 225. As will be seen from FIGS. 9 to 1l incl. the pneumaticmotor 87 includes a double-ended cylinder 301 in which isreciprocatively mounted piston head 88 provided with a through pistonrod 89 fixed thereto. One end 302 of the cylinder 301 has projectingtherethrough leading section 303 of the double-ended piston rod 89 towhich the initial section of the traverse chain 99 is connected formoving or driving the spread-apart clamping and guiding rails 80 and 180from their initial positions of FIG. 2 inward toward each other toclamping of an intervening carton at the station Y upon inward motion ofthis piston section. The other end 304 of pneumatic motor cylinder 301has projecting therethrough the other end section 305 of the doubleendedpiston for connection to the traverse chain section 499 which, uponoutward travel, cooperates in such inward drive or approach of theseclamping rails 80 and 180. In FIG. 9 the initial position of the pistonhead 88, as would be occupied under the FIG. 2 conditions, is indicatedin dotted lines at 188, and it is shown traveling to the left foreffecting the drive of the clamping rails 80 and 180 inward toward eachother to opposite sides of a carton stopped at the ap folding station Y.

The pneumatic circuitry diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 9 to l1incl. is shown in FIG. 9 as including a pair of solenoid valves 194 and195. Since the main pressurized air supply, indicated at 306, isconnected directly to one orifice of the solenoid valve 195 and thencethrough the next solenoid valve 194 to the pneumatic motor cylinder 301,solenoid valve 19S will be here identified as a rst such valve, andsolenoid valve 194 will here be considered as a second such valve. Thesolenoid valves 19S and 194 are modied forms of four-way valves. The rstsolenoid valve 195 has two orifices on the outlet side thereof, i.e.,1v1 and 1Ii1, indicated respectively at 307 and 308. This rst solenoidvalve 195 also has three orifices on the inlet side thereof, .e., lIIvl,lVvl, and Vvl, indi-cated respectively at 309, 310 and 311.

Similarly, the second solenoid valve 194 has two orifices Iv2 and Ilv2on its outlet side respectively indicated at 312 and 313. The secondsolenoid valve 194 also has on its inlet side three orifices IIIv2, IVv2and Vv2 respectively indicated at 314, 315 and 316.

The third and fifth orifices of solenoid valve 195, at 309 and 311,alternately serve as vents to atmosphere, and the fifth orifice at 316of the second solenoid valve 194 periodically serves as a similar vent.

The supply of pressurized air 306 is connected by a conduit 317 througha regulator 318 to the fourth orice of solenoid valve 195 at 310, andits second orifice at 308 is connected by a conduit 319 to the fourthorifice 31S of the second solenoid valve 194. The supply of pressurizedair 306 is also connected by a conduit 320 through a regulator 321 tothe third orifice 314 of the second solenoid valve 194. The first andsecond orifices at 312 and 313 of the second solenoid valve 194 arerespectively connected by conduits 322 and 323 to rst and second ductsor passages at I and II at 324 and 325 which communicate rwith thechamber of the pneumatic motor cylinder 301 at its respective ends 302and 304. The regulator 318 is set to provide a relatively high pressureof the gaseous medium or pressurized air, e.g., forty-live pounds persquare inch (45 lbs/sq. in.), and that at 321 is set to provide arelatively low pressure of the gaseous medium or pressurized air, c g.,five pounds per square inch (5 lbs/sq. in.).

It may be found desirable to apply greater gaseous pressure to the stopgate operating cylinder 227 than that which is applied to the raildriving cylinder 301 as the relatively high pressure is fed to thelatter. This may become desirable in connection with the handling ofrelatively heavily loaded cartons which entails application ofappreciable positive pressure to the stop gate operator 229 to assurethat the stop gate 225 will effect the required positive stoppage ofsuch cartons at the flap folding station Y, while limiting the maximumpressure feed to the rail driving cylinder 301. This may be accomplishedin a simple manner by moving the pressure regulator 318 out of theconduit 319 to a point intervening orifice 315 of the second solenoidvalve 194 and the interconnection between conduit 319 and the conduit332 which deliver the relatively high pressure to the stop gateoperating cylinder 227, such as to the alternate point indicated at 318ain FIG. 9. As a consequence, the pressure of the source 306 may beraised to that determined to be sufficient to bias the carton stop gate225 to its up position under all conditions of maximum load demand whileassuring that the maximum pressure supplied to the rail driving cylinder301 through the solenoid valve 194 will be limited to a lower value,such as forty-five pounds per square inch (45 lbs/sq. in.), as dictatedby the regulator [319, when the later] 318, when the latter is locatedat the point 318a.

With the clamping rails and 180, their traverse equipment and the pistonstructure of the pneumatic motor 87 in the initial positions illustratedin FIG. 2, energization of both of the solenoid valves and 194 by meanshereinafter described in connection with the diagrammatic showing inFIG. 16 of the electrical and pneumatic circuitries, pneumatic flowpassages through these valves illustrated in FIG. 9 are attained. Thus,inlet orifice 310 of the first energized solenoid valve 195 is connectedby a cross-passage 326 to its orifice 308 for feed through conduit 319to orifice 315 of the second energized solenoid valve 194. Orifice 31Sof energized solenoid valve 194 is connected by a cross-passage 327 toits orifice 312, whereby the relatively high pressure air is conductedthrough conduit 322 to the forward end 302 of the cylinder 301, so as tothrust the piston 88 in the latter back from its position at 188 towardits terminal position 288, both such positions being indicated in dottedlines. This action will cause the traverse chain 99-499 to drive theclamping rails 80 and 180 inward from their initial widely spread-apartpositions toward each other with their clamping shoes 211 approaching toabutment of opposite sides of the carton 134 temporarily held stopped atthe flap folding station Y by lift or stop gate 225. During such feed ofthe relatively high pressure air to the forward end 302 of the chamberof the pneumatic motor cylinder 301 air in the latter on the oppositeside or behind the piston head 88 will be bled out through conduit 323to orifice 313 of the second energized [solanoid] solenoid valve 194 forventing through orifice 316 thereof by a cross-passage 328.

After the front flap on the leading end on the carton 134, while thelatter is clamped at the station Y, is folded back and downward upon thetop of this carton the chain conveyor is started up to carry forward oneof its transverse ight bars 64-1 and 64-2, so that the latter is broughtup behind this carton to pick it up and transport it forward between theopposed rails 80 and 180 in their inward [position] positions which nowserves as guides. For this purpose, the clamping pressure must berelieved to an appreciable degree so as to permit such slide of thecarton between these now lightly elastically biased rails 80 and 180 intheir inward positions. This is accomplished by deenergizing both of thesolenoid valves 195 and 194 to manipulate them for establishing the flowpassages therethrough illustrated in FIG. 10. Now the relatively highpressure or gaseous medium delivered through conduit 317 is cut off atthe first de-energized solenoid valve 195 from communication to thepneumatic motor cylinder 301. However, the relatively low pressuregaseous medium is delivered through conduit 320 to orifice 314 of thesecond (le-energized solenoid valve 194 for feed through itscross-passage 329 to orifice 312 for delivery by conduit 322 to theforward end 302 of the chamber of the cylinder 301. At the same time theair in the other end 304 of the cylinder 301 located on the oppositeside of piston head 88 is continued to be vented through conduit 323 andnow cross-passage 330 established between orifices 313 and 315 ofde-energized solenoid valve 194, thence via conduit 319 and finally fromorifice 308 to vent orifice 311 by way of cross-passage 331 ofde-energized solenoid valve 195. As a result, the rails 80 and 180 areelastically biased to opposite sides of the carton 134 under relativelylight pressure, such as five pounds per square inch lbs./sq. in.) topermit the carton to slide forward therebetween.

As will be best understood from the following description of operationin connection with the showing in FIG. 16 a very short period mayintervene the attainment of the conditions depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10.During this period the solenoid valve 195 may be de-energized shortlybefore solenoid valve 194 is de-energized so that valve 195 isconditioned as shown in FIG. 10 while valve 194 remains energized as isindicated in FIG. 9. In this event solenoid valve 19S will feed therelatively high pressure air across from orifice 310 to orifice 307 forconduction by conduit 333 to the front end 231 of cylinder 227, therebyeffecting retraction of stop gate 225. This is accompanied by ventingthe back end 228 of cylinder 227 through conduit 332, orifice 308,passage 331 and out vent orifice 311. As this occurs both supplies ofpressurized air are cut off from communication with the clamping railtraverse cylinder 301, the relatively high at orifice 310 and therelatively low at orifice 314. The inwardly positioned clamping rails 80and 180 remain abutted against the opposite sides of the carton at theflap folding station for the short time until the condition of FIG. 10is attained to apply relatively low biasing pressure to these rails.

When the succeeding carton is admitted into the entrance end of themachine and fed forward toward the liep folding station Y the firstsolenoid valve 195 again becomes energized while the second solenoidvalve 194 remains de-energized. The condition of the pneumatic circuitryassociated with the pneumatic motor 87 at such time is illustrated inFIG. l1. It will there be seen that now the relatively high pressuregaseous medium is again fed through conduit 317, e.g., at forty-fivepounds per square inch (45 lbs./ sq. in.), to the energized firstsolenoid valve 195, through its cross-passage 326 to conduit 319, andthence through crosspassage 330 through the deenergized second solenoidvalve 194 to conduit 323, to be supplied through the back end 304 ofpneumatic motor cylinder 301 behind the piston head 8B for urging thelatter forward, back to its initial position 188. At the same timerelatively low pressure gaseous medium, e.g., at five pounds per quareinch (5 lbs/sq. in.), is supplied through conduit 320 and by way ofcross-passage 329 through de-energized second solenoid valve 194 andconduit 322 to the forward end 302 of the pneumatic motor cylinder 301,ahead of the piston 88 therein. The differential in pressures onopposite sides of the piston 88, e.g., forty pounds per square inch (40lbs./ sq. in.), is thus applied behind the piston head 88 to thrust itforward toward its initial position 188, so as to return the railtraversing equipment back to its initial positions of FIG. 2- Thisaction retracts the rails 80 and 180 away from each other, so as tospread them apart for receiving therebetween the next succeeding cartonas it enters the entrance end of the machine.

The action described above in connection with FIGS. 9, 10 and l1 is thenrepeated with this next carton as it is fed forward by continuallytraveling endless conveyor belt 27 to the flap folding station Y. As hasbeen previously indicated, stop mechanism is required at the forward endof the iiap folding station Y, intercepting the path of forward travelof this succeeding oncoming carton, so as to stop it in proper positionfor lowering of the elevating head 2 down thereover to effect theinitial flap folding operation, i.e., the folding back and down upon thetop end of the carton its upstanding leading flap. As is pointed outabove the stop mechanism to intercept this oncoming carton and cause itto pause at the flap folding station Y may be in the form of a retractedgate, such as that shown at 225 in FIGS. l, 2, 7 and 8 or in FIGS. 9, 10and 1l, which is to be lifted into a carton path intercepting positionfor abutment thereagainst of the leading end of the succeeding carton.As will be seen from the diagrammatic showing of the pneumatic circuitryin FIGS. 9 and 11 the pneumatic cylinder 227 and its piston structure229, 230 may perform this gate lifting operation by having the back end228 of the chamber in this cylinder connected by a conduit 332 to theinterconnecting conduit 319, to supply thereto, behind piston head 229the relatively high pressure gaseous medium, e.g., at forty-five poundsper square inch (45 lbs/sq. in.), to thrust this piston head forwardcausing piston rod 230 to raise the stop gate 225 to its full lineposition shown therein. This action occurs when first the solenoid valve195 is energized, and may happen when the clamping rails and 180 are intheir relative inward clamping positions and while solenoid valve 194 isde-energized, as depicted in FIG. 11, so that these clamping rails willbe driven away from each other to their spread-apart positions of FIG.2, to be maintained in this up carton intercepting position as solenoidvalve 194 is then energized, as indicated in FIG. 9, to drive thesespread-apart rails inward toward their carton clamping positions. Instarting up operation of the inactive machine the stop gate 225 israised immediately when the circuitry is first supplied with powercausing solenoid valve 195 to be immediately energized, as will beexplained in the description of FIG. 16. Thus the stop gate 225 israised to its intercepting position to stop the next oncoming carton atthe flap folding station Y and then the clamping rails 80 and 180 arebrought snugly against opposite sides of the stopped carton at the iiapfolding Station, with their clamping shoes 211 abutted to opposite sidesof the carton under relatively high clamping pressure, eg., forty-fivepounds per square inch (45 lbs/sq. in). With the application of therelatively high pressure gaseous medium behind the piston head 229 thegaseous medium or air in the head end 231 of the chamber of the cylinder227 was vented by a conduit 333 connected to orifice 307 of the firstenergized solenoid valve 195 for venting through cross-passage 334 ofthe latter and its vent orifice 309.

As will be seen from FIG. 10 when both solenoid valves 195 and 194 arethen de-energized, the relatively high pressure gaseous medium issupplied through orifice 310 and cross-passage 33S of the firstde-energized solenoid valve 195 to be fed through conduit 333 to thehead end 231 of the chamber of stop gate cylinder 227. This causes therelatively high pressure to be applied to the opposite side or in frontof the piston head 229 to cause it to retract piston rod 230 and effectattendant retraction or lowering of the stop gate 225. This gateretraction releases the carton for further forward transport at the timethe inwardly located clamping rails 80 and 180 become biased withrelatively low pressure gaseous medium to convert them to guiding rails.By reference to FIG. 1l it will be seen that when the first solenoidvalve 195 again becomes energized with maintenance of thede-energization of the second solenoid valve 194 retraction of theguiding rails 80 and 180 is begun and again relatively high pressuregaseous medium is fed to behind piston head 229 in the cylinder 227 tothrust it toward its maximum position of advance 229-1 for raising thegate 225 to its carton stopping position 225-1.

This cycle of operation of lifting and retracting the carton stoppinggate 225 is cyclically performed simultaneously with the recyclingoperations of the inward drive and outward retraction of the rails 80and 180, as are illustrated in FIGS. 9, 10 and 1l.

It is to be understood that the alternate lifting and retraction of thestop gate 225 need not depend upon alternate pneumatic drive of itsoperating mechanism, such as the piston 229 of cylinder motor 227. Aswill be seen from FIGS. 12 and 13 the interconnecting conduit 332, whichin FIGS. 9, l0 and ll connects the back end of the chamber of cylinder227 to the interconnecting conduit 319 for supply of relatively highpressure gaseous medium thereto periodically, may be omitted. In suchcase the stop gate mechanism 2240 may include a helical compressionspring 336 mounted within the cylinder 2270 behind the piston head 229,with the back end 2280 of this cylinder vented, such as is indicated at337. Such compression spring 336 thus constitutes the motor whichthrusts the piston head 229 forward to cause piston rod 230 to raise thestop gate 225 to its carton path intercepting position, as is indicatedin FIG. 12. This expansion of the motor spring 336 is permitted when thefront end 231 of the cylinder 2270 is connected by means of conduit 333to the vent orifice 309 by way of cross-passage 334 of the firstenergized solenoid valve 195, with the cylinder chamber behind thepiston head 229 being permitted to aspirate air through vent 337. Thusthis lifting force is applied to the stop gate 225 to lift it up to itscarton path intercepting position and takes place at all times thatretracting pressure is not applied to the front end 231 of cylinder2270, including the time when the opposed rails 80 and 180 are drivenmore progressively inward toward opposite sides of an oncoming carton,so as to stop the latter at the flap folding station Y, there ultimatelyto be securely clamped by these rails and their clamping shoes 211.

As will be seen from FIG. 13 when both of the solenoid valves 195 and194 are de-energized to apply relatively low pressure gaseous medium tothe opposite side of the piston head 88 in the cylinder 301 of raildriving pneumatic motor 87 for conversion of these rails to cartonguiding means the relatively high gaseous medium, e.g., at forty-livepounds per square inch (45 lbs/sq. in.), is supplied from conduit 317through cross-passage 325 of the first deenergized solenoid valve 195and by way of conduit 333 to the front end of 231 of the cylinder 2270so as to retract the piston head 229 and its piston rod 230 forwithdrawing the stop gate 225 from the path of the carton to allow it tobe transported forward from the flap folding station Y. This actioncompresses the motor spring 336 with vent of air through the vent 337.This condition of FIG. 13 is maintained until the first solenoid valve195 is again energized, such as while the de-energization of the secondsolenoid valve 194 is maintained for effecting the retraction of theguiding rails 80 and 180 from each other to permit reception of the nextoncoming carton, as in FIG. 11, at which time feed of relatively highpressure gaseous medium to the front end 231 of cylinder 2270 is cut offto permit the spring 336 again to raise the stop gate 225.

As will be seen in FIGS. 14 and l5 lugs 266-1 and 266-2 carried by thefar conveyor chain 159 are of appreciable length, being about thirtyinches (30") long in an operative embodiment of the machine depicted byway of example in the drawings. As was previously indicated these lugs266-1 and 266-2 are provided for successively engaging beneath roller237 on the [tip of] tip end of trigger 236 which manipulates a secondlimit switch 235, the latter being biased to one condition of circuitcontrol and when its trigger is tripped upwardly by either of such lugscarried therebeneath to manipulate it to another condition of circuitcontrol. These lugs 266-1 and 266-2 are of the appreciable length shownso that the second condition of circuit control effected by the trippingmay be maintained for a proper time release. The relative positions ofthe [pair limit] pair of limit switch tripping lugs 66-1 and 66-2 withrespect to tripping lugs 266-1 and 266-2 are shown therein by thebracketing of the positions of the former (not viewable in FIGS. 14 and15) for an understanding of the relative timing of the operations of thelimit switches 135 and 235, respectively controlled by the switchtripping lugs 66-1 and 66-2 on the conveyor chain 59 and the switchtripping lugs 266-1 and 266-2 carried by the conveyor chain 159. Theoperations illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 and the actions dictatedthereby are here explained in connection with the operational detailsdescribed with reference to the circuitry shown in FIG. 16.

As is illustrated in FIG. 16 the electrical circuitry of the machine,shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, includes AC powersupply lines L1, L2 and L3, to which are connected in parallel circuitsto supply such power to main motor 51 and AC reversing starter switches253 and 254 of the vertical motion motor 174. Starter switches 252 areclosed by energization of a relay coil 2520. The Up starter switches253, which dictate drive of motor 174 in one direction for the lift ofthe head 2, are closed by energization of a relay coil 2530, and theDown starter switches at 254, which dictate reversed drive of this motorfor lowering the head, are closed by energization of relay coil 2540. Abrake coil 255 is associated with motor 174 to hold it in stoppedposition. A rectifier circuit 256 for converting AC power to DC energysupplies the latter to magnetic brake 67-1 and magnetic clutch 67-2through parallel circuits between conductors 342 and 343 thereof, andthese parallel circuits are alternately closed. The circuit of themagnetic brake 67-1 includes a biased-closed switch 256-1 and thecircuit of the magnetic clutch 67-2 includes a biasedopen switch 256-2,and these switches are tied together for simultaneous alternate openingand closing by a relay coil 2560. Since relay coil 2560 is initiallydeenergized, the brake circuit switch 256-1 remains closed with thebrake applied to the drive of the chain conveyor 59459. In theillustrated machine it is desirable to connect the clutch switch 256-2to conductor 342 alternately through a voltage reducer 344 and a fullvoltage line 345 respectively by means of a normally closed switch 341-2and a normally open switch 341-3 tied together for simultaneousmanipulation.

The rectifier circuit 256 also supplies DC power to a photocell system1380, which includes the photocell 138 in the vicinity of the entranceselector gate 12 (see FIG. l) and a light source 139 arranged on theopposite side of the machine for directing a photocell exciting beamupon this photocell (see FIGS. 14 and 15 and a photocell system 1400,which includes the photocell 140 at the sensing and ap folding station Y(see FIG. l) and its exciting light source 141 on the opposite side ofthe machine (see FIGS. 14 and 15 The energizing circuit for thephotocell systems 1380 and 1400 includes a normally open switch 262-1which is to be closed by energization of a relay coil 2620.

A normally open switch 259, which is to be closed manually to effectinitial operation of the machine, is connected in series with the relaycoil 2620 in one of a plurality of parallel circuits connected toneutral line N of the power supply circuit for bridging across thelatter. Another one of these parallel circuits includes a normally openStart push button switch 263 connected in series with the relay coil2520 which controls the main motor starter switches 252. The Start pushbutton switch 263 is shunted by a holding circuit which includes amagnetic overload switch 265 and a normally open switch 252-4 controlledby relay coil 2520, so that when the latter is energized this holdingcircuit will continue to supply energy to the branch circuits leadingfrom this Start push button switch. There is connected to the parallelcircuit which includes in series the Start push button switch 263 andthe relay coil 2520, at a point therebetween, a branch circuit whichincludes in series a normally closed switch 262-2, which is under thecontrol of relay coil 2620, and the relay coil 2560. This normallyclosed switch 2622 is shunted by a holding circuit which includes inseries a normally open switch 262-3, also under the control of relaycoil 2620 and a held open switch -1 which is biased toward closure. Tothe same common point of connection between the Start push button switch263 and the relay coil 2520 is connected another branch circuit whichincludes a held open head switch 149-1 that is biased toward closure, aconductor 101 which leads to a normally open switch 341-1 that is tiedto normally closed switch 341-2 and normally open switch 341-3 forsimultaneous manipulation, a held closed switch 13S-2 which is biasedtoward open position, and a conductor 102 connected to the branch linewhich includes in series the normally closed switch 262-2 and the relaycoil 2560 at a point intermediate these latter switch and relay coils. Arelay coil 3410 is connected between conductor 101 .and the neutral lineN to be in par. allel with the normally open switch 341-1, held closedswitch 13S-2 and relay coil 2560. Relay coil 3410 when de-energizedunder the conditions depicted in FIG. 16 permits switches 341-1 and341-3 to remain open and switch 341-2 to remain closed, and whenenergized closes switches 341-1 and 341-3 and opens switch 341-2.

Held open switch 13S-1, which is biased toward closure, and switch13S-2, which is held closed and biased toward open condition, are tiedtogether for simultaneous manipulation. These two switches are embodiedin the limit switch 135 that is under the control of the trigger 136which is periodically tripped successively by the lugs 66-1 and 66-2carried by the conveyor chain 59 (see FIG. 1). For example, when the lug66-1 is beneath the trigger 136 of limit switch 135 to trip it up andhold it in such tripped position switch 135-1 is open and switch 13S-2is closed, as is indicated in FIG. 16, and they are held in theserespective conditions by the maintenance of this tripping by this luglocated beneath the roller 137 of the tripping trigger 136, as in FIG.1.

A branch circuit is connected to the common point between the Start pushbutton switch 263 and the relay coil 2520 through normally open switch262-3 (by connection to the mentioned shunt circuit between the latterand the held open switch 13S-1) with this branch circuit including inseries a biased closed switch 235-1 of limit switch 135, normally openphotocell switch 140-1, a held closed head switch 149-2 which is biasedtoward open position, a biased closed travel limit switch 186-1 and therelay coil 2540, thence to the neutral line N. At a point intermediatethe normally open photocell switch 140-1 and the held closed head switch149-2 and the neutral line N is connected a branch circuit including theenergizing winding of solenoid valve 194. Beyond the biased closed limitswitch 23S-1 is provided a second branch circuit for simultaneouscontrol with the irnmediately precedingly described branch circuit, thissecond branch circuit including in series a conductor 268 connected tothis intermediate point ahead of photocell switch [140-1, second] 140-1,a second normally closed photocell switch 140-2, a normally closedmanual switch 272, another biased closed travel limit switch 186-2 andthe relay coil 2530, thence to connection with the neutral line N. Tothe common connection between photocell switches 140-1 and 140-2,intermediate the biased closed limit switch 235-1 and the normally openphotocell switch 140-1 is connected another branch conductor 267 whichincludes a normally closed manual switch 274, another held closed headswitch 149-4 which is biased toward open position, and the winding ofsolenoid valve 195, thence to the neutral line N. The normally Openphotocell switch 140-1 and the normally closed photocell switch 140-2are tied together for simultaneous manipulation when the photocellsystem 1400 is energized by a light beam emanating from light source 141failing upon photocell 140 (in the absence of an intervening carton atthe flap folding station Y). Thus, when the photocell system 1400becomes de-energized (by interception of this light beam emanating fromlight source 141 to prevent it from impinging upon photocell 140 as aresult of intervention by a carton) normally open photocell switch 140-lis closed and its companion switch 140-2 is opened.

A pair of normally open manual switches 273 and 275 are respectivelyconnected in parallel circuit conductors 276 and 277 with normally openswitch 273 leading to connection with biased closed travel limit switch186-2. The normally open manual switch 275 is connected by a conductor103 to a point intermediate the held closed head switch 149-4 and thewinding of solenoid valve 19S. The bank 271 of manually andsimultaneously operable switches, consisting of normally closed switches272 and 274, and normally open switches 273 and 275, are provided so asto permit quick and ready freeing by a single manual act of a damagedcarton in the machine. Thus no further consideration [need given] needbe given here to this bank 271 of manual switches with respect to theoperation of the machine in successively closing a plurality of randomsized cartons.

Parallel circuit 278 includes in series normally closed switch 262-4 andthe winding of selector entrance gate solenoid valve 197, this normallyclosed switch being [opened energization] opened upon energization ofrelay coil 2620 so that the selector gate 12 is initially in its up,carton-barring position shown in FIG. l. Parallel circuit 269 hasconnected in series therein a normally open switch 262-5, a secondbiased closed limit switch 23S-2, a normally open photocell switch 138-1and a relay coil 2660, thence to the neutral line N. A crossconnectionbetween parallel circuits 269 and 278 is provided through a normallyclosed switch 266-1 between a point intervening biased closed switch23S-2 and normally open photocell switch 13S-l, and a point interveningnormally closed switch 262-4 and entrance gate solenoid valve 197. Thus,when switch 262-5 is closed by energization of relay coil 2620 uponinitial closure of the manual switch 259 with resulting opening ofswitch 262-4 (also associated with this now energized relay coil) theentrance gate solenoid valve 197 will be energized for a short period topermit entrance of an open carton at the position Z in FIG. 1 to themachine for closing, as will be explained more fully later in connectionwith the description of a typical operation of the machine. The entranceof such carton to the machine will cause it to intercept the beam oflight impinging upon the photocell 138 at the entrance gate so as tostop excitation thereof and eiect closure of the photocell switch 138-1.Thus the relay coil 2660 becomes energized to open its normally closedswitch 266-1 for deenergizing entrance gate solenoid valve 197 andclosing its normally open switch 266-2 which is shunted around photocellswitch 138-1 to provide a holding circuit for this relay coil. Thiscircuitry also has associated therewith another energizing circuit forthe relay coil 2560. This other energizing circuit for relay 2560consists of a conductor 104 having one end connected between the relaycoil 2660 on the one hand and the switches 266-2 and 138-1 on the otherhand. The other end of conductor 104 is connected between the switches341-1 of relay coil 3410 and the conveyor operated limit switch 13S-2.Conductor 104 has therein a second photoswitch 138-2 which is normallyclosed to be opened when the photocell 138 is (le-excited.

Another parallel circuit which provides for alternate retractive andhap-folding striking action of the back ilap kicker 161 is provided andincludes in series biased closed sensing switch 128, a held open headswitch 149-3 which is biased toward closed position and solenoid valve198 which operates the back llap kicker.

It will thus be seen that relay coil 2620 controls live switches, viz.,normally open switches 262-1, 262-3, and 262-5 and normally closedswitches 262-2 and 262-4. It will also be seen that the relay coil 2520controls four normally open switches, viz., the three in the powersupply lines connected to the main motor 51 and holding circuit switch252-4 shunted around the Start push button 263. Relay coil 2560manipulates simultaneously the normally closed brake circuit switch256-1 and the normally open clutch circuit switch 256-2. The relay coil3410 simultaneously manipulates its normally open switches 341-1 and341-3 and its normally closed switch 341-2. The head switch 149, whichis carried by the elevating head 2 and is manipulated by the front apfolder arm 146, has embodied therein four switches, viz., held

